The included breakfast was an enormous spread lasting from 06:30 ’til 10:30:

cereal, fruit, pastries, miso and sushi for the multitude of Japanese guests (which failed to materialise), salad, hot dishes including both Whitey and Balinese food,

an “Egg Corner” where one could order any amount of eggs prepared in any desired fashion,

a variety of juices and an endless supply of tea & coffee.

Did I miss anything?

Our modus operandi was to enjoy a leisurely breakfast

then adjourn to the patio to relax over fruit, coffee & crossword

with an occasional dip into the pool.

Luxury!

THEN a stroll along the beach into town for the inevitable shopping expedition…

Constant harassment, continuously beeping taxis & scooters (no cars in the town – avoid at all cost!), choking, eye-watering exhaust fumes, crowded, narrow, potholed footpaths (where they existed), HUGE unnavigable puddleslakes when it rainedbucketed down every evening; in short – THIRD WORLD HELL!

But then – HEAVEN! We discovered a bar (Swell) that showed (pirated, no doubt) movies & served ice-cold (truly – I got a frozen bottle!) beer, another (La Walon) with The Best Staff (hi guys!), the cheapest beer and a phenomenal hotel-size menu, a restaurant (Blue Planet) with The Coolest Three-Piece Cover Band Of The Whirl (hi guys!) and a pretty authentic isakaya (Ryoshi).